Shoe-fastener.



W. H. HARRIS.

SHOE FASTENER.

APPLIOATIOR FILED MAR. 15, 1909.

Patented Apr. 5, 1910.

WM babe @(Qfliamm 8'5. Sta min,

AM 61th 0441 w- WILLIAM H. HARRIS, OF GLADSTONE, TERRITORY OF NEW MEXICO.

SHOE-FASTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 5, 1910.

Application filed March 15, 1909. Serial No. 483,431.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, VILLIAU. II. IIARRIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Gladstone, county of Union, and Territory of New Mexico, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoe-Fasteners, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in shoe fasteners and has for its object to provide simple and inexpensive means of this character that will be efficient and reliable in use.

A further object of my invention is to provide metallic link fasteners to be used in combination with a shoe lacing, said links to be depended on to form the main fastening means and the lacing to act as a means for locking the links in closed position.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

lVith these objects in view my invention consists in such a novel construction and arrangement of parts all as will be hereinafter fully described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specific:- tion, and in which,

Figure l is a perspective view of a shoe cmbodying my invention in its preferred form, Fig. 2 is a detail transverse section taken on the line ac to of Fig. 1 showing the link fastening in .nearly closed position, Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the open po sition of the link fastening, Figs. 4t and 5 are respectively detail front and side elevations showing the lacing clasp or locking means,

and Fig. (3 is a detail view of a link fastener.

Referring now to the drawings 1 indicates a shoeprovided with a loose leather tongue 2. The inner llap 3 and the outer flap 4: are of the same general shape and disposition as the corresponding parts in an ordinary button shoe. The tongue 2 is arranged between the inner and outer flaps and is provided with a series of links 5 and 5' pivoted thereto on opposite sides thereof. These links are preferably slightly curved and are provided with eyes 6 at their extremities. The eyes 6 are preferably sewed to the tongue 2 and to the flaps 3 and 4, but the links may be pivoted to these portions in any suitable manner. The links 5 and 5 are curved to conform to the shape of the shoe when the same are in the closed position, thus allowing the outer flap 4 to come within close proximity of the inner flap 3.

It will be seen that when in the closed position the links practically overcome all stresses tending to unfasten the shoe and that the lacing 7 merely serves as a locking means. Loops 8 are secured to the flaps 3 and t, through which loops the lacing 7 is drawn. These loops are arranged alternately and are practically in alinement when the shoe is fastened. The links 5 and -5 are arranged on the inner and outer sides of the tongue 2 respectively, and the same are pivoted not only on opposite sides but adjacent opposite edges of said tongue.

The lacing clasp 9 may be secured to the flap 3 as shown in Fig. 1 and comprises a sheet metal frame 10 and a corresponding roller 11 having eccentric journals 12 mounted in said frame in such a manner that the periphery of the roller is adjacent the main portion of the fame 10. The locking action of the eccentric roller 11 on the lacing is clearly shown in Fig. 5.

A hook 13 is seen red to the inner flap 3 a djacent the upper end thereof, and to which hook the tongue 2 may be fastened, eyelets 14 in the tongue 2 being provided for this purpose. The links 5 are disposed obliquely as shown in Fig. 1 so that when the tongue 2 is pulled upward and fastened to the hook 13 the edges of the flaps 3 and t are forced apart, thus tightening the shoe across the instep.

While I have shown what I deem to be the preferable form of my invention, I do not wish to be limited thereto, as there might be slight modifications of the same which would be comprehended within the scope of my invention.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the class described, a shoe having an inner flap and an outer flap overlapping the same, a longitudinally movable tongue interposed between said flaps, a series of obliquely disposed links pivoted on the inner sides of said tongue and to said inner flap, a similar series of links pivoted to the outer side of said tongue and to said outer flap and means for securing said tongue in operative position, substantially as described.

2. In a device of the class described, a shoe having an inner flap and outer flap overlapping the same, a tongue interposed 1 In testimony whereof I have signed my between said inner and outer flaps, and a name to th sspeclfication in the presence of 10 plurality of links provided with eyes at the tWo subscrlbing Witnesses.

ends thereof" one eye of each link being pivoted to said tongue and the other to on? WILLIAM HARRIS of said flaps, said links being disposed ob- Witnesses:

liquely on opposite sides of said tongue, sub- JOSHUA R. H. PoTTs,

stantially as described. HELEN F. LILLIs. 

